Nielsen Considers Editorial Restructuring

Initiative could mean staffing consolidation, layoffs.

By Jason Fell
10/01/2008

Nielsen Business Media is exploring a reorganization of content strategy across its brands company-wide, which could result with a considerable consolidation of editorial staffs, FOLIO: has learned.

“We are exploring ideas for a new content strategy across all of Nielsen Business Media’s 40 brands that could include the creation of a content center across the organization,” a spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to FOLIO:. “Our objective is to provide opportunities for investment in our editorial capabilities, including investing in new tools and technology that will make us stronger, faster and more nimble in producing content across our brands.”

It was not immediately clear if layoffs could be part of the reorganization.

In August, Source Media announced a reorganization that concentrated its more than 60 magazines into four business groups, and recasted editorial staffs for each of its individual brands, "pooling" editorial by market.

One possible move for Nielsen, according to two knowledgeable sources, would be to combine the news desks for Nielsen’s Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek magazines. A decision about the reorganization could come as soon as this month.

Earlier this year, Nielsen scaled back Adweek’s print frequency from 47 issues per year to 36.

Nielsen has been undergoing a major staffing reduction since December 2006 when the company announced a restructuring plan that would eliminate 4,000 positions. Spearheaded by CEO David Calhoun, the initiative was created in hopes of transforming Nielsen into a more “successful and efficient enterprise.”

In April, after another round of job cuts, chief press office Gary Holmes told FOLIO: Nielsen was nearing its mark of 4,000 cuts.